Thermal pads between stacked semiconductor dies and associated systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are described for improved heat dissipation of the stacked semiconductor dies by including metallic thermal pads between the dies in the stack. In one embodiment, the thermal pads may be in direct contact with the semiconductor dies. Heat dissipation of the semiconductor die stack can be improved by a relatively high thermal conductivity of the thermal pads that directly contact the adjacent silicon dies in the stack without the intervening layers of the low thermal conductivity materials (e.g., passivation materials). In some embodiments, the manufacturing yield of the stack can be improved by having generally coplanar top surfaces of the thermal pads and under-bump metallization (UBM) structures.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology generally relates to stacked semiconductor dies having through-silicon vias (TSVs). Several embodiments of the present technology are related to improving heat dissipation of the stacked semiconductor dies by including metallic thermal pads between the dies in the stack.

BACKGROUND

Stacked semiconductor dies are used in a wide variety of applications that require high data transfer rates and/or small footprints. For example, many systems require a processor die (e.g., logic die) and one or more memory dies. Traditionally, the processor and memory dies are packaged in separate packages and are electrically interconnected through a motherboard. In some applications, the processor and memory dies are placed next to each other on a common packaging substrate that provides electrical connectivity between the processor and memory dies. Nonetheless, in such applications a relatively large distance from one die to another limits the data transfer rates among the dies. The data transfer rates are additionally limited by the capacitance and inductance of the traces that electrically interconnect the dies. Furthermore, each die (e.g., a processor or a memory die) occupies space on the substrate in proportion to its size and to the corresponding traces that connect the die to other dies, such that side-by-side configurations have larger overall footprints.

For applications that require higher data transfer rates and/or smaller packages, a processor and several memory dies can be stacked vertically and electrically interconnected using TSVs. The TSVs enable stacked dies to be stacked close to each other such that the dies are spaced apart from each other by only relatively small vertical distances, which in combination with the relatively low inductance of the TSVs enables higher data transfer rates. Also, since the dies are stacked vertically, the total footprint of the stack corresponds to the footprint of the largest die in the stack.

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view of a vertically stacked die arrangement in accordance with the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a stacked die assembly 1000 has a processor die 110, three memory dies 120 a-c stacked on the processor die 110, and TSVs 150 that electrically connect the processor die 110 with the memory dies 120 a-c. The processor die 110 can have several functional areas, for example a processor core 116, read/write logic 117 and/or I/O buffer 118. These functional areas can be electrically interconnected through metallization traces 119. The processor die 110 also includes pads 115 for electrically connecting the stacked die assembly 1000 to a package substrate (not shown) through, for example, wirebonds. The closely spaced, vertically stacked dies 110 and 120 a-c are suitable for relatively high data transfer rates while occupying only a relatively small total area. However, the close spacing of the semiconductor dies also increases the density of power dissipated by the semiconductor dies. Therefore, thermal management is typically more difficult for stacked semiconductor dies than for other arrangements. One possible improvement in the thermal management of the stacked semiconductor dies includes placing thermal pads (dummy pads, outrigger pads) between the dies in the stack to enhance heat transfer through and ultimately out of the stack.

FIGS. 2A-2G illustrate a manufacturing process for thermal pads of a semiconductor die stack in accordance with the prior art. FIG. 2A illustrates a semiconductor die 201 attached to a carrier wafer 225 by an adhesive 220. The carrier wafer 225 can be used to improve handling and to protect the semiconductor dies during the manufacturing process. Suitable carrier materials are, for example, ceramic or silicon. In a typical semiconductor manufacturing process, the carrier wafer will be removed from the semiconductor dies before packaging the individual semiconductor dies. The semiconductor die 201 can have a silicon material 210, an active structure 215 that includes electrical circuits, and TSVs 230 interconnecting the electrical circuits of the active structure 215 to an area at a peripheral surface 211 of the silicon material 210. As explained in relation to FIG. 2G below, the peripheral surface 211 faces additional die or dies in the stack. The die 210 can also have an isolation lining 235 (FIGS. 2A-2C) that electrically isolates a conductive material 231 of the TSV 230 from the silicon material 210. Only one TSV 230 is shown in FIG. 2A for clarity, but a typical semiconductor die would include many TSVs.

FIG. 2B illustrates the semiconductor die 201 after planarizing or grinding the peripheral surface 211. This can thin the die and roughen the peripheral surface 211, which improves adhesion of mask layers used in subsequent processing steps.

FIG. 2C illustrates the semiconductor die 201 after the peripheral surface 211 has been etched to expose one end portion of the TSV 230. Suitable silicon etching techniques include, for example, selectively etching silicon while not etching metals, for example copper. After etching, a portion of the TSV 230 projects above the peripheral surface 211 of the semiconductor die 201.

FIGS. 2D and 2E illustrate the semiconductor die 201 with a passivation material 280 before and after patterning, respectively. The passivation material 280 can be a polymer, for example, a polyimide. Suitable patterning techniques include, for example, photo patterning and developing a resist material to etch indentations 285 in the passivation material 280. For example, a leaky chrome process can be used to pattern the indentations 285. The indentations 285 in the passivation material 280 provide locations for subsequent metal deposition. For example, sputtering techniques can be used to deposit metal into the indentations 285.

FIG. 2F illustrates the semiconductor die 201 after depositing metal into the indentations 285 to form thermal pads 250 and an under-bump metallization (UBM) structure 255. The thermal pads 250 and UBM structure 255 are formed during the same metal deposition process. The thermal pads 250 have a relatively high thermal conductivity that improves heat dissipation from the semiconductor die 201 when the thermal pads 250 contact the next semiconductor die in the stack. The thermal pads 250 transfer heat through the stack and ultimately to the environment. The UBM structure 255 that caps the exposed end of the TSV 230 electrically connects signal, power and/or ground lines with other semiconductor dies in the stack. With the conventional technology, the thermal pads 250 are formed over a thin portion of the passivation material 280 that separates the thermal pads 250 from the silicon material 210 by a thickness T. Additionally, since the thermal pads 250 and UBM structure 255 are formed in a same semiconductor manufacturing step (e.g., metal deposition), approximately same thickness of material is added to the target areas of the semiconductor die corresponding to the pattern of indentations 285. As such, after forming the UBM structures 255 and the thermal pads 250, the top of the UBM structure 255 may be higher than the top of the thermal pad. For example, the top of the UBM structure 255 may be separated from the top of the thermal pad 250 by a distance L.

FIG. 2G illustrates stacking of the semiconductor dies 201 and 202 stacked after the carrier wafer 225 and adhesive 220 have been removed. The semiconductor dies 201 and 202 are aligned such that the TSV 230 of the semiconductor die 201 connects to a TSV 232 of the semiconductor die 202 through a die pad 270 when the semiconductor dies are brought into contact in a direction of arrows 251. The thermal pads 250 help to transfer heat Q from the stack in addition to the heat transferred through the TSV 230. The illustrated conventional thermal pads 250, however, suffer from several deficiencies. For example, the passivation material 280 (e.g., a polymer) has a relatively low thermal conductivity that inhibits heat transfer from the semiconductor die 202 in proportion to a thickness T of the passivation material that separates the thermal pads 250 from the silicon material 210. Furthermore, the uneven height (e.g., distance L) of the UBM structure 255 and the thermal pads 250 generally reduces the stacking yield of the semiconductor dies because contact between the UBM structure 255 and the die pad 270 can prevent the thermal pads 250 from contacting the semiconductor die 202.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the present technology. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view of vertically stacked dies in accordance with the prior art.

FIGS. 2A-2G illustrate a manufacturing process for forming thermal pads of a semiconductor die stack in accordance with the prior art.

FIGS. 3A-3I illustrate a manufacturing process for forming thermal pads of a semiconductor die stack in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIGS. 4A-4G illustrate a manufacturing process for forming thermal pads of a semiconductor die stack in accordance with another embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 5 is a comparison graph of die temperatures in conventional die stacks compared to embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific details of several embodiments of representative stacked die assemblies and associated methods of manufacturing stacked die assemblies are described below. The stacked die assemblies may include vertical stacks of memory dies, processor dies, and/or other dies that are electrically interconnected using through-substrate vias (TSVs). A person skilled in the relevant art will also understand that the technology may have additional embodiments, and that the technology may be practiced without several of the details of the embodiments described below with reference to FIGS. 3A-5.

Several embodiments of the present technology are directed to vertically stacked semiconductor dies with improved heat dissipation and manufacturing yield when compared to the conventional devices described above with reference to FIGS. 2A-2G. In some embodiments of the present technology, thermal pads can contact the adjacent silicon dies in the stack to improve heat transfer through the semiconductor die stack. For example, thermal pads having a relatively high thermal conductivity can directly contact the adjacent silicon dies in the stack without the intervening layers of the low thermal conductivity materials (e.g., passivation materials). Furthermore, in some embodiments of the present technology, the thermal pads and UBM structures of a semiconductor die can have generally coplanar top surfaces to improve adhesion of the thermal pads and UBM structures with the next die of the stack and thereby improve the overall die stacking yield (e.g., manufacturing yield).

FIGS. 3A-3I illustrate a manufacturing process for forming thermal pads of a semiconductor die stack in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. FIG. 3A illustrates a semiconductor die 301 having a silicon material 310 with a peripheral surface 311 and an active structure 315. The semiconductor die 301 can be attached to a carrier wafer 325 by an adhesive 320. In some embodiments, the carrier wafer 325 can be used for improved handling and protection of the semiconductor dies during the manufacturing process, and the carrier wafer 325 can be removed from the semiconductor die 301 before packaging the individual semiconductor dies in a stack. The die 301 can also include a plurality of TSVs 330 (only one shown) that electrically connect integrated circuits of the active structure 315 with other semiconductor dies in the stack, and each TSV 330 can have a conductive material 331 and an isolation lining 335 that electrically isolates the conductive material 331 from the silicon material 310.

FIG. 3B illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after planarizing the peripheral surface 311 and the top of the TSV 330. The planarization thins the die to reduce the overall height of the die stack. Additionally, the planarization can roughen the peripheral surface 311 to improve adhesion of the mask layers and metallization of the subsequent manufacturing steps. Suitable planarization and grinding techniques include, for example, chemical-mechanical planarization and mechanical grinding.

FIG. 3C illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after applying a mask 390 over the peripheral surface 311 and forming an opening 395 in the mask 390 aligned with the TSV 330. The opening 395 exposes the TSV 330 and a portion of the peripheral surface 311 around the TSV 330 (e.g., laterally from the TSV 330). In some embodiments, the exposed portion of the peripheral surface 311 can be etched while the remaining areas of the peripheral surface 311 covered by the mask 390 are protected from the etchant.

FIG. 3D illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after the silicon material 310 around the TSV 330 has been etched to form an indentation 345. Suitable silicon etchants can selectively etch the silicon material 310 while not etching the conductive material 331 of the TSV 330 or at least etching the conductive material 331 at a slower rate than that of the silicon material 310. A non-isotropic etchant can create inclined surfaces of the indentation 345, but isotropic etchants can also be used. After etching a portion of the silicon material 310 around the TSV 330, the TSV 330 projects above the floor of the indentation 345. In some embodiments of the present technology, the exposed end of the TSV 330 can be generally co-planar with the areas of peripheral surface 311 covered by the mask 390 (FIG. 3C), which can promote a generally uniform height of a subsequently deposited metal material as explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3G and 3H below.

FIGS. 3E and 3F illustrate the semiconductor die 301 after a passivation material 380 has been deposited (FIG. 3E) and then patterned (FIG. 3F). The passivation material 380 covers the peripheral surface 311 of the semiconductor die 301, but does not cover the top of the TSV 330. Suitable passivation materials may include polyimide or nitrogen oxide. In some embodiments, the passivation material can have a thickness of about 2 μm. After patterning, the passivation material 380 has openings 385 (FIG. 3F) that expose locations for metal deposition on or otherwise at the peripheral surface 311.

FIG. 3G illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after thermal pads 350 and UBM structures 355 (only one shown) have been formed. The thermal pads 350 can be formed by depositing metal into the openings 385, and the UBM structure 355 can be formed by depositing metal over the exposed end of the TSV 330. In some embodiments, sputtering techniques can be used to deposit metal into the openings and over the exposed end of the TSV 330 in a single process. In some embodiments an adhesion material 352 (e.g., Ti and/or TiW) may be deposited into the indentations 385 to securely adhere the thermal pads 350 to the silicon material 310. In at least some embodiments, the top surfaces of the UBM structure 355 and the thermal pads 350 are generally coplanar (e.g., at generally the same height (H)) because the exposed end of the TSV 330 and the peripheral surface 311 are at least substantially coplanar at the onset of the metal deposition process. As shown in FIG. 3G, at least a portion of the indentations includes a lateral open area between individual UBM structures and the passivation material adjacent the individual UBM structures. FIG. 3H shows the semiconductor die 310 after the carrier wafer 325 has been removed. As explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3I below, coplanarity between the tops of the thermal pads 350 and UBM structures 355 can improve attachment of the semiconductor die 301 to the next semiconductor die in the stack.

FIG. 3I illustrates stacking of the semiconductor dies 301 and 302. In some embodiments of the present technology, the UBM structure 355 of the semiconductor die 301 can be aligned with a corresponding die pad 370 of the semiconductor die 302. When the semiconductor dies 301 and 302 are stacked (arrows 351), the thermal pads 350 of the semiconductor die 301 contact an active structure 316 of the semiconductor die 302, and the UBM structure 355 contacts the die pad 370. In operation, heat transfer (Q) between the dies 301, 302 (and ultimately away from the stack) can be improved by a relatively high thermal conductivity of the thermal pads 350 that directly contact semiconductor dies 301 and 302. In some embodiments, the thermal pads 350 can be formed of copper, aluminum and/or other metals. Furthermore, since the top surfaces of the thermal pads 350 and UBM structure 355 are at least substantially coplanar, the stacking yields of the semiconductor dies can be improved because of better alignment of the thermal pads 350 and UBM structure 355 with the corresponding structures of the semiconductor die 302. Additional semiconductor dies (not shown) can also be added to the stack. For example, the stack can include 4, 8, 10, or more semiconductor dies.

FIGS. 4A-4G illustrate a manufacturing process for forming thermal pads of a semiconductor die stack in accordance with an additional embodiment of the present technology. FIG. 4A corresponds to FIG. 3C described above, and like reference number refer to the same or similar components in FIGS. 3A-4G.

FIG. 4B illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after etching the exposed portion of the peripheral surface 311 to form an indentation 445 in the semiconductor material 310 around the exposed end of the TSV 330. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, the indentation 445 is formed using an isotropic etchant that forms generally vertical walls in the silicon material 310, but non-isotropic etchants can also be used. Additionally, the etchant can selectively remove the silicon material 310 such that the TSV 330 remains substantially unchanged by etching. Therefore, the TSV 330 can have a top surface that is generally coplanar with the peripheral surface 311 of the silicon material 310.

FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate the semiconductor die 301 after a passivation material 480 has been deposited (FIG. 4C) and then patterned (FIG. 4D). The passivation material 480 is patterned to have openings 485 that expose areas the peripheral surface 311 of the semiconductor material 310 to a subsequent metal deposition.

FIG. 4E illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after thermal pads 450 have been formed in the openings 485 (FIG. 4D) of the passivation material 480 and UBM structure 455 has been formed on the TSV 330. The thermal pads 450 and the UBM structure 455 can be formed concurrently such that they have approximately the same thickness. Since the exposed end of the TSV 330 (where the UBM structure 455 is formed) is generally coplanar with the peripheral surface 311 (where the thermal pads 450 are formed), the resulting vertical height of the UBM structure 455 and the thermal pads 450 can also be generally same, e.g., the UBM structure 455 and the thermal pads 450 can be at a generally same height (H). FIG. 4F illustrates the semiconductor die 301 after the passivation material around the thermal pads has been stripped away (e.g., by etching).

FIG. 4G illustrates stacking of the semiconductor dies 301 and 302 where the semiconductor die 301 is made as shown in FIGS. 4A-4F. The thermal pads 450 and the UBM structure 455 of the semiconductor die 301 can contact the semiconductor die 302 at the active structure 316 and the die pad 370, respectively, as indicated by arrows 451. A direct contact between the thermal pads 450 and the active structure 316 improves heat transfer (Q) between the dies 301 and 302 due to a relatively high thermal conductivity of the thermal pads 450 that are in direct contact with semiconductor dies. Additionally, since the top surfaces of the thermal pads 450 and UBM structure 455 are generally coplanar, the stacking yields of the semiconductor dies can be improved. The stacking process may be repeated for additional dies in the stack. However, in accordance with an embodiments of the present technology, only some dies in the stack may be directly contacted with the thermal pads 450, while others are not.

FIG. 5 is a comparison graph of die temperatures obtained by a numerical simulation of the conventional die stacks and die stacks in accordance with the present technology. Each simulation test case includes a semiconductor die stack having a logic semiconductor die and several memory dies. The horizontal axis includes three test cases: (a) a die stack having conventional thermal pad technology, (b) an embodiment of the present technology that includes thermal pads between the individual memory dies, and (c) an embodiment of the present technology that includes thermal pads between the individual memory dies and also between the logic die and the stack of the memory dies. The vertical axis indicates the maximum temperature simulated on the logic die and on the memory die that is next to the logic die. Power dissipation and general geometry/stacking arrangement of the semiconductor dies in the stack was same for all the simulated test cases (a, b, and c). With the conventional thermal pad (test case a), the temperatures simulated on the logic and memory dies were 108.6° C. and 95.6° C., respectively. When the thermal pads according to the present technology were used between the memory dies in the stack (test case b), the heat dissipation was improved and the temperatures simulated on the logic and memory dies were 98.4° C. and 93.8° C., respectively. Furthermore, when the thermal pads according to the present technology were used between all the dies in the stack (logic and memory, test case c), the heat dissipation from the stack was additionally improved and the temperatures simulated on the logic and memory dies were further lowered to 94° C. and 90.9° C., respectively. Therefore, the thermal pads according to the present technology produced lower temperature of the semiconductor dies in comparison to the conventional thermal pads in the same die stack.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. For example, materials of the thermal pads can differ from the materials of the UBM structures. Furthermore, the heights of the thermal pads and the UBM structures can be different if the structures of the next die in the stack have correspondingly adjusted heights. For example, a UBM structure that is higher than the thermal pads can be mated to a die pad that is recessed into an active surface of the next die by an appropriate depth, while still resulting in relatively good stacking yields. Moreover, while various advantages and features associated with certain embodiments have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages and/or features, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages and/or features to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein. 

We claim:
 1. A semiconductor die comprising: a silicon material having a first side, a second side facing away from the first side, a plurality of indentations at the first side, and a plurality of via openings extending from the indentations at the first side through at least a portion of the silicon material; a passivation material on the first side of the silicon material; an active structure in the silicon material at the second side, the active structure having electrical circuits; a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) disposed in the corresponding plurality of via openings, wherein individual TSVs have a first end at the first side of the silicon material and a second end opposite from the first end, and wherein the individual TSVs project from the adjacent silicon material of the indentations at the first side of the silicon material; a plurality of under-bump metallization (UBM) structures, wherein individual UBM structures comprise a first portion of a conductive material, wherein the first portion caps the first end of a corresponding one of the TSVs and extends around sidewalls of the first end and into a corresponding one of the indentations, wherein at least a portion of the indentations includes a lateral open area between individual UBM structures and the passivation material adjacent the individual UBM structures, and wherein the passivation material is between individual UBM structures and the silicon material; and a thermal pad in contact with the first side of the silicon material, wherein the thermal pad comprises a second portion of the conductive material, wherein the UBM structures and the thermal pad have a first surface facing the first side of the silicon material and a second surface facing away from the first side of the silicon material, and wherein the second surfaces of the UBM structures and the thermal pad are generally coplanar.
 2. The semiconductor die of claim 1 wherein the passivation material contacts the first and second portions of the conductive material.
 3. The semiconductor die of claim 1 wherein the passivation material is a polyimide material.
 4. The semiconductor die of claim 3 wherein the thermal pad has a side surface between the first and second surfaces, and wherein the polyimide material extends at least partially along the side surface of the thermal pad.
 5. The semiconductor die of claim 1, further comprising an adhesion material between the thermal pad and the silicon material.
 6. The semiconductor die of claim 5 wherein the adhesion material is selected from a group consisting of Ti and TiW.
 7. The semiconductor die of claim 1 wherein the thermal pad comprises copper.
 8. A stack of semiconductor dies comprising: a first semiconductor die having: a silicon material having a first side and a second side facing away from the first side, a plurality of indentations at the first side, and a plurality of via openings extending from the indentations at the first side through at least a portion of the silicon material, a passivation material on the first side of the silicon material, an active structure in the silicon material at the second side, a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) disposed in the corresponding plurality of via openings, wherein individual TSVs have a first end at the first side of the silicon material and a second end opposite from the first end, wherein the individual TSVs project from the adjacent silicon material of the indentations at the first &de of the silicon material, a plurality of under-bump metallization (UBM) structures, wherein individual UBM structures comprise a first portion of a conductive material, wherein the first portion caps the first end of the corresponding one of the TSVs and extends around sidewalls of the first end and into a corresponding one of the indentations, the individual UBM structures having a first surface facing the first side of the silicon material and a second surface facing away from the first side of the silicon material, wherein the passivation material is between the first side of individual UBM structures and the silicon material and wherein at least a portion of the indentations includes a lateral open area between individual UBM structures and the passivation material adjacent the individual UBM structures, and a thermal pad having a first surface in contact with the first side of the silicon material and a second surface facing away from the first side of the silicon material, wherein the thermal pad comprises a second portion of the conductive material; and a second semiconductor die having: a first side facing the first semiconductor die and a second side facing away from the first side, and a plurality of die pads facing the corresponding plurality of the UBM structures of the first semiconductor die, wherein the second surfaces of the UBM structures and the second surfaces of the thermal pads are generally coplanar with the first side of the second semiconductor die.
 9. The stack of semiconductor dies of claim 8 wherein the passivation material is a polyimide material.
 10. The stack of semiconductor dies of claim 8, further comprising an adhesion material between the thermal pads and the silicon material.
 11. The stack of semiconductor die of claim 8 wherein the first surface of the thermal pad contacts the first side of the silicon material of the first semiconductor die. 